Bob Bishop was a shy student in high school who found confidence at Hinds Community College. At Hinds, he became editor of the student newspaper and realized he could accomplish his goals. He went on to get degrees from Hinds and the University of Southern Mississippi. Bishop had a successful career in journalism, including as bureau chief for a national business newspaper. He now works as public information officer for a major satellite manufacturer, telling stories about America's achievements in space that began with his first journalism course at Hinds.

1. Bob Bishop (1971) was quiet and shy in high school. It
wasn’t until he came to Hinds Community College that
he got the confidence boost he needed to forge what
would soon be a very successful career in journalism
and
“I came to Hinds and grew up all of a sudden,” he said.
“I was actually treated like an adult. For the first time in
my life, I believed that I could accomplish something. I
had arrived.”
Bishop got his associate degree in general studies
before attending the University of Southern Mississippi
(USM) where he received his bachelor’s degree in
communications.
While at Hinds, he was editor of The Hindsonian, the
twice monthly student newspaper. He was also the
executive editor of USM’s twice-weekly student
newspaper, The Student Printz, his senior year.
In 1973, Bishop got a job as a staff writer at The Daily
Herald (which is now known as the Sun-Herald), the
state’s second largest daily newspaper based in
Gulfport-Biloxi.
From there, he took his second, and last, job in
journalism as the Southern California bureau chief for
Electronic News, a national weekly business
newspaper. Based in Los Angeles, he covered
developments in a burgeoning semiconductor industry
that led to the prevalence of today’s personal electronic
devices.
ALUMNI NEWS
Hinds alum tells story
of America in space
“Whether it means holding news media briefings at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C., or working
alongside reporters covering satellite launches at Cape
Canaveral, my job means using every means possible to
publicize the quality of the spacecraft we design and
build for the U.S. military and for NASA,” he said.
Primarily, Bishop manages all communications,
internally and externally, for four main categories of
satellites: military communications, missile defense,
space telescopes and climate monitoring.
The Space Park campus is where some of the nation’s
most advanced, and sometimes secretive, spacecraft are
designed and built, according to Bishop.
“Satellites developed here have explored faraway
planets, provided space-based telecommunications for
troops on the battlefield and spied on enemies’ fortified
defense enclaves,” he said.
Through his many years of reporting and writing,
Bishop looks back to Hinds as the start of it all.
“I’m passionate about journalism because it allows me
to be a story teller,” he said. “Whether the stories are
about America’s success in space or manufacturing
capabilities that help keep our country strong, the
stories are compelling. It’s an honor to help tell those
stories. The first journalism course I took at Hinds was
key to realizing the rewards from a career in
communications.”
In 1989, Bishop broke into the technology business
and accepted the position of Public Information
Officer for the California Manufacturing Technology
Consortium, a public-private partnership to improve
the quality and productivity of the state’s small
manufacturers.
His next career step took him to Northrop Grumman
Corporation, spending four years initially at the
corporate headquarters in Los Angeles. He
subsequently transferred to the Aerospace Systems
sector in Redondo Beach, Calif., a major
manufacturer of military and scientific satellites.
FALL 2014 HINDSIGHT 11